Updated February 2026. Originally posted March 2020.
While the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival has great fabric and pattern vendors (some of which we featured in Part 1 of this post), that’s not all that’s there.
Quilt shop cuckoo clock from Cheryl Ann’s Design Walls booth
You can find booths for guilds and organizations devoted to keeping handmade traditions alive. There also are lots of vendors selling tools, embellishments, and materials that go along with quilting and other types of crafting. It’s impressive how many of them have invented, made, or designed the products they’re selling!
Although I haven’t been to the Phoenix Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival since I moved to Tucson, I wanted to update information about the last show I went to and the vendors I met. The 2026 show starts tomorrow (January 29). Not all of these vendors will be there, but plenty more will be participating!
Last year, I went to two days of the Festival – one with my Mom and one with sister-in-law Dinah and friend Kelli.
The first day, we ended up parking in a lot that was actually meant to be for a dog show, which we needed to walk through to get to our Festival.
The second day, I parked there on purpose. We walked past booths of dog stuff and people with impeccably groomed and well-mannered dogs. I really wanted to ask one of them if their dog was available to tutor our little rascal Quijote. But that’s not why we were there.
Walking into the Festival building meant being surrounded by a dazzling array of colors and patterns, handcrafted items, crafty inventions, and big ticket items like long arm sewing machines. It was fun to check in with favorite vendors from the past, meet new ones, and see things I hadn’t before. Continue reading “Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival: Patterns + Fabric”
Since the first time Phillip and I attended Tucson Comic-Con a few years ago, the event has expanded to take over most of Tucson Convention Center and the adjoining Tucson Arena!
It now spans 3 days full of activities, including panels, fan group meetups, an art zone with free classes, scavenger hunts, costume contests, plus a grand ballroom dedicated to all kinds of gaming – giant board games, a free play arcade, puzzle competitions, role-playing games, and more. Continue reading “Tucson Comic-Con 2025 Highlights”
Updated November 2025. Originally published November 2020.
Lately, I can’t seem to ignore this charming yellow hue that’s a bit more orangey than mustard and more opaque than just plain honey. I’m calling it “honeycomb.”
You can find this sweet shade on artisan goods, as well as things you can make, wear, or eat.
1. Honeycomb with fresh nectar reflecting the tree canopy. Photo by Max Westby, a beekeeper and honey producer in Burgundy, France. (CCL)
Since another World Embroidery Day is just around the corner, I updated this 2018 post and added more information about the embroidery artists and what they’ve been up to lately. Also, since it is World Embroidery Day, I listed what countries they are from and/or living in.
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In honor of the upcoming World Embroidery Day (July 30), here are 18 modern embroidery art pieces and patterns!
